Scream

[Pencey]

Taken from another post in another thread written for another person...

So what was it about Scream that you liked? Was it the poor writing, awful acting, banal directing, languid pace, fresh teen cast of characters that we have no reason to care about, bright generic cinematography, clumsy/harmless killer, forgettable action movie score, or was it the mix of comedy and horror that didn't work at all causing the movie to be neither funny nor frightening?

Just curious.

What really bothered me was that the killers (there's two of them?!) had no motive at all. None. And then to really insult the audience's intelligence, they claim that their motive is that it's the end of the millineum! Good god...

I guess to the brain-dead it's not insulting, but it is insulting to me. It's also lazy writing...

[Ire]

What I liked about Scream was that it played with the conventions of the slasher movie. Neve Campbell's best movie role and Rose McGowan is easy on the eyes.



Definitely agree that the killers' motives were lame. Even if that was the point, it's a lame point.

But for, imo, even lazier writing from Williamson I'd recommend I Know What You Did Last Summer. Just recently watched the whole movie and found myself wanting to shove glass under my fingernails. The best worst line exchanged at the end. Ray: "See, no one gets me the way you do." Julie: "I understand your pain." :rolling:

Still, both movies did well enough to get sequels and Williamson has enough money to buy out my life. What can I say?

[homosapiens]

Taken from another post in another thread written for another person...



What really bothered me was that the killers (there's two of them?!) had no motive at all. None. And then to really insult the audience's intelligence, they claim that their motive is that it's the end of the millineum! Good god...

I guess to the brain-dead it's not insulting, but it is insulting to me. It's also lazy writing...

It's been a long time, since I've seen this movie. However, I remember that the killers did have a motive. Wasn't it revenge for something that happened a year before?

[TwoBitHack]

Do real world serial killers have a motive other than the fact that they are pathologically insane?

[Erehwon]

I really hated Scream.

[theturnaround]

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Yes, I think Neve's mother got together with Billy's father... the infidelity caused a split in his family... infuriating him...

The movie may not stand up to the tests of time... but when it was released, it really energized horror, and spawned a lot of "self aware" copycats...

tt

[elephant1978]

I really enjoyed the trilogy the first time around. I even defended it recently. But I've since caught pieces of Scream on cable...it's not really holding up for me. Kinda borders on annoying. The dialogue, the set-ups, the actors especially. Matthew Lillard is a real pest.

But what I liked the most about these movies at the time (and still do) was the mystery rather than the scares or humor. Since it played with the conventions of slasher flicks, you knew there would be a trilogy and a thorough, fully realized story. I liked that. Of course that could all mean nothing now that there's a Scream 4 rumor going around.

Ele...

[Ire]

Yeah, that was the motive behind Cidney's mother's murder, but the rest were written off as not needing a motive. Pathological killers don't need motive, but the 'Watch a few movies, take a few notes, it was fun', er, okay -- but it doesn't even skim the horror of a Michael Myers character. Was it a commentary on the youth of America? I know it's a popcorn movie and did great at the box office, but I'm just sayin'.

[Pencey]

Do real world serial killers have a motive other than the fact that they are pathologically insane?

No, but serial killers don't travel in packs either.

Williamson's lame writing had one character murdering out of revenge but he murdered the woman's daughter, not the woman herself which makes no logical sense.

The other one did it cause "it's the new millineum."

Serial killers they are not.

[Biohazard]

Someone please explain to me why the killer (one of them) is running around public places like the school and grocery store, dressed in the killer's attire in broad daylight. I mean, seriously...what the ****?

[j over]

What really bothered me was that the killers (there's two of them?!) had no motive at all. None.
Yes, there was a motive and it is explained in the climax of the film by one of the killers.

[ViningWolff]

Watched this again on cable recently. The wife and I enjoyed it when it first came out, though we got a kick out of the self-aware aspect.


However the only scenes that feel thay have stood the test of time are the opening scenes, in particular Drew unable to call for help beacuse of her slashed throat.


Number 3 was terrible. And it seems to be playing on an endless loop on TBS these days

[argo]

No, but serial killers don't travel in packs either.

Williamson's lame writing had one character murdering out of revenge but he murdered the woman's daughter, not the woman herself which makes no logical sense.

The other one did it cause "it's the new millineum."



Actually, he did murder the woman herself. Remember, the mother died a year ago - it was blamed on Cotton, but it was really Billy Loomis (Skeet) who murdered her. And now, a year later, he's finishing the job by going after her. And he was smart enough to realize that he needed some help to take the blame off himself, hence, recruiting his dimwitted friend (I still quote Matthew Lillard in that movie..."Liver alone"). So the two person murderer worked for me and I found it original.

Is it the tightest, most-logical movie? No. But it's damn fun. Still enjoy it for what it is. And still way better than most horror schlock out there.

[whistlelock]

yep. Billy had a motive and his friend was just sensative to peer pressure. And the clumsy killer routine really worked well. Very nice.


I still like this movie.

[Biohazard]

My complaint about the motive is that it felt more tacked-on than anything...as if they got to that point in the story and then decided that the killer(s) needed a reason for killing. It doesn't seem organic to the story at all. It just comes out of the blue.

[Ire]

I agree with Bio, mostly because his icon might threaten to send me a "love letter" otherwise. And I'll be f-cked forever!

[SethMace]

It doesn't stand up for repeat viewing as peeps have already said (well not for me - besides not many films do anyway!) but it inspired Scary Movie, so it's not all bad:D

[flyingcactus]

I really like it. I've seen it a gazillion times and have read it a bunch of times. I think it's breezy quick writing and really fun. I think Williamson is great. Horror movies get SO OLD that these were a great way to make a movie scary and funny and balanced it really well.